- Chat
- Q&A / Polling
PANEL PARTICIPANTS
Dave Labuskes
CEO AVIXA
David Labuskes is the CEO of the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, AVIXA. Labuskes leads the association’s mission to be a catalyst of growth for the AV industry and a hub for the AV professional community. Before joining AVIXA in 2012, he spent nearly 14 years with RTKL Associates (now CallisonRTKL), where he established the firm’s Technology Design practice and worked with a growing team of professionals to build one of the largest and most-respected technology design practices in the world.
David Grindle
USITT Executive Director
Lori Pugh Marcum
Head of Meeting Innovation, Meeting Planners International
Lori Pugh Marcum has 16 years of experience in the meetings and events industry on both the planner and supplier side of the business. As Head of Meeting Innovation, with Meeting Professionals International she is responsible for managing meetings and event production along with speaker and session management, as a part of MPI’s global live and virtual event portfolio. She delivers and promotes MPI Academy education to increase community enablement and revenue. Lori and her team are responsible for education at conferences such as MPI Smart Monday at IMEX America, MPI World Education Congress, and MPI European Meetings and Event Conference. She also served as producer and anchor for the Global Meetings Industry Day Broadcast in 2019 and 2020.
She spent 6 years at Jacksonville’s PRI Productions as both an event producer and manager of the Event Producer Department. During her time at PRI Productions, she managed events with partners such as THE PLAYERS Championship, Gator Bowl Association, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to her role at PRI Productions, she was also Special Events Manager for the AAA Five-Diamond resort, Ponte Vedra Inn and Club as well as Events Manager for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Communications and Advertising from the University of North Florida and will graduate with her Master’s Degree in Meeting and Event Management from San Diego State University in December of 2020. Lori was honored as Meetings and Conventions Magazine’s 22 Millennials to Watch in 2016.
Mark Tester
OCCC Execusive Director
Mark Tester is the Executive Director of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), located in Orlando, Florida. He is responsible for overall operations, planning, marketing and all activities at the OCCC, while ensuring its positive economic impact for the community.
Prior to this role, Tester held the position of Austin Convention Center Director, an enterprise department of the City of Austin, from 2008 to 2020. During his tenure in Austin, Tester held a seat on the Executive Committee of Visit Austin and was the President of Austin Convention Enterprises – the board that
oversees the City financed 800-room Hilton Austin.
Tester’s repertoire of experience also includes 13 years in the Chicago convention community, where he held senior positions at both the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (now Choose Chicago) and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the owner and manager at that time of McCormick Place.
Tester earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Purdue University.
Eddie Raymond
Retired VP/Training Director IATSE Local 16, Past President of ETSA, OSHA Outreach
Eddie Raymond retired from being the Safety & Training Director of IATSE Local 16 in 2014. He is the Past President of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), sits on the IATSE Crafts Advancement Program committee, is a member of the ETCP Council, and is a Subject Matter Expert for the ETCP Entertainment Rigging Exams and is a board member of the Behind The Scenes Charity for the entertainment industry. Eddie has acted as ACT’s Scene Shop Foreman/Technical Supervisor and, among other activities, as Construction Coordinator at Industrial Light and Magic. Currently he is an OSHA outreach instructor and is working with the IATSE and others on developing guidelines to address the pandemic when safely returning to work becomes an option.
HOSTS
Justin Frick
AV Chicago
Justin Frick is co-owner of AV Chicago and edge ShowTek, audiovisual companies providing equipment, technical services, and production management for events, conferences, and meetings locally and throughout the country. Justin has been working with artists, associations, corporations, and event producers for over 20 years designing and executing effective and memorable events.
Justin’s primary focuses are strategic growth, continuous refinement of operational process, and reinforcement of AV Chicago’s brand values.
Additionally, Justin is a member of Collaboraction, an organization that supports social justice and equity through devised theater to tell powerful stories that drive crucial conversations that transform Chicago. Most importantly, Justin is a husband and father of two who enjoys scuba diving, boating, camping, and travel.
Alexis La Broi
VER
Alexis Bryant La Broi has had a career in professional audiovisual services for 25 years. She began in Live Events and worked in various leadership positions including Director, and Director of Sales, and RSM for PSAV, Swank AV, and AVI-SPL Creative Services from 1995- 2014. She was a mentor and trainer in the DC area.
From 2014- 2019, she transitioned to Pro AV Integration and worked for Media Vision as a RSM and for Avitecture Inc. as a Systems Consultant. While there, she designed and sold integrated AV systems to federal and state government, corporate, hospitality, and association clients.
In 2019, Alexis returned to live events and is now the Director of Sales at VER/ PRG for the Mid- Atlantic and New England territories. VER rents audiovisual technology to our production, rental/ staging, and hotel AV partners.
Alexis earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA)with a concentration on Hospitality in Tourism in 2009. She is a Certified Technology Specialist (CTS), and a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
BREAKOUT ROOMS
In the Meeting Business, ‘We’re All In This Together’ is More than A Cliché’.
In the Meeting Business, ‘We’re All In This Together’ is More than A Cliché’.
JOINMeeting Planners – What’s Important Now?
Meeting Planners – What’s Important Now?
JOINThe Venue of the Future: Where We Meet is as Important as How We Meet
The Venue of the Future: Where We Meet is as Important as How We Meet
JOINReference Materials
Virtual Event & Meeting Management Program
In today’s changing world, event & meeting management professionals are expected to have the skills necessary to plan and execute both live and virtual events. This course is designed for industry professionals who are looking to build on their existing event management skillset and experience by learning the fundamentals needed to plan and manage virtual events.
Emergency Preparedness for Events Certificate Program
MPI’s Emergency Preparedness for Events Certificate Program gives you the tools you need to effectively plan for— and respond to—crisis situations and deliver on your responsibility to both your attendees and your organization. You’ll learn how you can ensure the safety and security of all attendees, limit damage and restore services in the event of an emergency.